SOLUTION: A man is carrying rice on a journey. He passes through three custom stations. At the first he gives up 1/3 of his rice; at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left; and

Question 183931: A man is carrying rice on a journey. He passes through three custom stations. At the first he gives up 1/3 of his rice; at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left; and at the third he gives up 1/4 of what remains. After passing through all three custom stations, he has six pounds less than when he started. How much rice did he start with?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A man is carrying rice on a journey. He passes through three custom stations.
At the first he gives 1/3 of his rice; at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3
of what is left; and at the third, he gives up 1/4 of what remains.
After passing through all three custom stations, he has 6 pounds less than he
started with. How much rice did he have when he started?
;
Let x = amt started with
;
"the first he gives 1/3 of his rice;"
the leaves him with x
:
"at the second he is allowed to keep 1/3 of what is left;"
* x = x left
:
"at the third, he gives up 1/4 of what remains. (that means he kept 3/4)
* x = x - 6 (he ended up with 6 lb less than when he started)
x = x - 6
x = x - 6
Multiply equation by 6
x = 6x - 36
x - 6x = -36
-5x = -36
x =
x = 7.2 lbs

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